- Ford EV owners in Southern California can earn $1 per kilowatt-hour for reducing energy use during peak times.
- Ford is the first major U.S. automaker to join SCE’s program, enhancing grid resilience and stability.
- The program fosters collaboration between automakers, utilities, and partners to integrate EV charging with grid needs.
Ford EV drivers can support the California power grid, and earn money while they do it
Ford EV owners in Southern California can now earn money by helping support the power grid during peak demand periods. That makes Ford the first major US automaker to enable customer participation in Southern California Edison’s (SCE) Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP). This program offers incentives to reduce energy use and strengthens the grid’s resilience.
Through Ford’s California Power Response program, EV owners can earn $1 for every kilowatt-hour of energy they reduce during peak times. This is made possible by Ford’s managed charging solution, which adjusts charging schedules to lower demand when the grid is under stress.
The initiative marks an important step in collaboration between automakers and utility companies. As more EVs hit the road, coordinated efforts like this will be crucial for maintaining grid reliability.
Ford is partnering with Olivine, Inc., a company that manages distributed energy resources, to make this integration seamless. The goal is to align EV charging with grid needs in real time, providing new ways of managing energy.
Ford hopes that this program will pave the way for more vehicle-to-grid innovations, offering more benefits to customers, the electric grid, and communities. As these technologies develop, SCE plans to continue working closely with vehicle manufacturers, charging providers, and other partners.
